Amtrak to introduce eTickets in 2012, expand Wi-Fi services

Amtrak announced that it plans to make eTickets available by 2012, and that it will expand its Wi-Fi services.

Amtrak introduced an eTicket pilot program on its Downeaster Service route from Boston to Portland, Maine.

When passengers book a trip, a PDF of their ticket will be emailed to them. They will be able to print out their eTicket prior to their trip or use their smartphone to access a scanable ticket. Passengers also will be able to print out their eTicket at Amtrak ticket offices.

Passengers can modify their reservations up until the moment they board the train.

Amtrak plans to make eTickets available on all of its routes in 2012.

Separately, Amtrak will expand its free AmtrakConnect Wi-Fi services to 12 additional routes along the East Coast. Routes include Amtrak’s Empire Service (New York–Albany, N.Y.–Buffalo, N.Y.), Downeaster Service (Boston–Portland, Maine) and Keystone Service (New York–Philadelphia–Harrisburg, Pa.).

Amtrak says bandwidth capabilities are limited on many routes because they depend on the telecommunications companies’ networks that operate along Amtrak’s train routes. Amtrak plans to work with telecommunications companies to expand the scope of its bandwidth coverage.